Anchor Coral polyp size?

[ericbosco]

Hi All,

yesterday I just got an green anchor coral at the LFS. The skeleton structure is T-Bone shape. During the trip from the LFS to home, the polyps retreated mostly in the skeleton, but much to my happiness, after about 1 hour in my tank they were back to how they looked at the LFS, about 1/2-3/4" long, with the overall coral still being T-Bone shaped.

So it all seems good, but some of the pictures of anchor corals I've seen on the web show a ball of polyps. Hard to tell how long they are, but some photos seam like more than 3/4" long.

Anyhow, not sure what to expect and whether my anchor is actually healthy or not. Looks good to me, but who knows.

Thanks,

-Eric

 

[esmithiii]

I have a similar species, euphilia paradivisa, and the tentacles on my polyps reach almost 6", and the whole "polyp ball" if you will can reach 8-10"

E

 

[Gatortailale1]

Only be super alarmed if the polyps/coral looks damaged where te polyps attach and retract into skeleton. I have a gren one with 4 heads and polyps probably extends 4-6 inches. When fully open I have hugh bull and can't see skeleton.

I would watch it close, but give it time to acclimate to tank and get used to your lights and water conditions.

4 what its worth.

 

[smokinreefer]

if the skeleton isnt exposed i wouldnt worry about it. give it some time to adjust to your tank.

one key to good expansion, put it where it will get low to modrate flow. high flow will inhibit its polyps from expanding fully.

 

[ericbosco]

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know exactly what "moderate" flow is. It is placed about 2 feet away from a Maxijet 900 powerehead. The powerhead is on a wave maker and does not point directly at it, rather about 3" to the side of it. With my hand near the coral, I can't feel much current, yet the polyps do buffet back and forth rapidly when the powerhead comes on.

Is this good or too much flow?

Thanks,

-Eric

 

[esmithiii]

The test with the flow has to do with polyp expansion. I have had good success placing mine in flow that moves the tenticles around a bit, but the coral still opens fully. When it opens fully, it looks almost like a knobby balloon.

Also, I feed mine regularly, like a couple of times a week. I feed mine small chunks of shrimp (pea sized or smaller), brine shrimp, chunks of scallops, etc. I use a pair of chopsticks to drop a small chunk into the polyp. Sometimes you can see them "swallow" it.

Mine has divided on two of the 3 heads, and seems to be doing quite well.

Ernie

 

[ericbosco]

This is what it looks like (finally got a good pic to come out):

What do you all think? Looking good? How much more should it expand before it looks totally healthy? I plan to keep it in this position for at least a week before I move it to see how it does.

Thanks,

-Eric

 

[Reefscap]

Looks good to me , Let it alone

 

[esmithiii]

Most healthy euphilia ancoras I have seen are expanded more. My euphilia paradivisa expands much more. Give it time, and after a week or so it does not expand more, then move it to a lower current location.

E